Kapil Dev donates his pension to orphanage

New Delhi:World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev donated his pension from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to an orphanage and called for other well off cricketers to giftthe money to others who are in need.

"I request the cricketers who don't need this pension to give it to those who are in need," the legendary all-rounder said at a ceremony organised by the Delhi and District CricketAssociation (DDCA) to give away the first cheque of the new pension scheme to former Tests cricketers and umpires.

The pension scheme was instituted by the BCCI as a gesture to honour and recognise former players on the eve of its 75th anniversary.

As per the scheme, every retired cricketer and umpire who has represented the country in the Test arena would get Rs. 5000 per month for life.

"The Board has done well to bring out this pension scheme but there are some cricketers who don't need this and some who absolutely need it," Kapil said.

"I give my pension to Hamara Ghar, a home run by 90-year old man. And five kids will get a thousand rupees each through this.

"Who knows, one of them could tomorrow become a Sachin Tendulkar or Laxman or Dravid."

But Kapil's request was anticipated by Rajinder Pal who announced after receiving the cheque that his pension would go towards the 'development of future Uttaranchal cricketers'.

"I would say to the Board, 'Don't look at present but at the future'," said Pal."I have not received any details about the scheme. I want to know if the pension is taxable.

"If yes, I would want the BCCI to pay that tax," he added.The first to receive the cheque was Surindernath who made his debut against the West Indies in 1958 and played 11 Tests in all. Surindernath, who has the honour of clean bowling Peter May of England, said the pension amount of Rs.5000 was less significant in present circumstances but long way from the days when he was paid Rs.250 for a match.

"If anybody broke his bat, he would start looking around because the wage we got was less than the cost of the bat," he said. All the former players were unanimous in their request to the BCCI to extend the scheme to One-day International and domestic cricketers and umpires.

Surindernath also asked the Board to issue all the former players with an "ID card with which we can go and watch a Test match anywhere in India without having to look for free passes."